Local man receives award for saving car accident victims

A Saranac Lake native has received the Soldier's Medal for saving victims from a burning car following an accident in Hawaii.

Staff Sergeant Cameron Grimone is sergeant of the Guard, Headquarters and Headquarters Company in the Army's 25 Infantry Division.

While driving along Oahu's H-1 Freeway, Grimone, his wife and his friend - 1st Lt. Joseph Fontana, also of Saranac Lake - witnessed a passing vehicle lose control and collide with an embankment. The vehicle flipped several times, finally coming to rest on its side.

The vehicle's driver sustained severe injuries and was trapped beneath the burning car, and the passenger was ejected.

Grimone and Fontana rocked the vehicle until the driver could be safely removed from the wreckage. The two men provided first aid to the driver and passenger until an emergency response team arrived on the scene.

For their bravery, they earned the Honolulu Police Department's highest medal for bravery, the Civilian Medal of Valor, last summer.

Grimone was awarded the Soldier's Medal, the U.S. Army's highest peacetime award for heroism, last week.